Latch



Aug. 13, 1929. H. F. WARDWELL LATCH Filed April 27, 1925 (an newer film/01F Strum/n43;

l atented Aug. 13 1929 A L E- A W LL, Q D T QITJL O T OMPA 1313v DETHRQHB. MIG

MICHIGANIQASSIGNOR 170, ETROIT s'rnni.

H AN. .A. om an on-.01 MI HIGAN- LATCH.

Application filedApril' 27,

to latches, and more for side wall vents This invention relates particularly to latches and the like.

The invention has an object to simplify,

render more efiicient, and improve generally devices of this character and to produce a gravity cam latch designed more especially for side wall vents andthe like. I

The details of construction of an illustrative embodiment, as well asthe advantages of the invention, will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fragmentary portion of a side wall vent and frame showing the application of my invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view, Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on'the plane indicated by the line 38' in Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a front elevation of'a slightly. modified form of construction.

Referring now particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts, it will be noted that there is illustrated a side wall Vent or sash 10, while the reference character 11 indicates the window frame. \Vhile it will be immediately obvious that any desired sash and frame construction may be employed'it willbe noted that the cross-sectional shape of the sash and frame 10 and 11 includes in each instance abutting surfaces 18 andle. With-a construction such as this the sash has a double engagement with the frame throughout, thus insuring a weather-proof joint.

Mounted upon one of the frame members, preferably and ary frame member 11, is a keeper 15. This keeper plate is rigidly secured "to the frame 11 for instance to the central portion 13" thereof by means of rivets 16 or the like, and extends outwardly therefrom as shown in Figure 3. The flange of the sash 10 is preferably cut away as. shown at 10" for the reception of the keeper plate.

The keeper plate has one face 17 thereof bevelled, this bevelled portion being interrupted by a latch recess or depression 18 into which the latch member is adapted to engage. One wall 19 oft-his recess 18 is inclined or bevelled with respect to the path -12 consists of} a.

herein shown as the station-I 28 and 29 in the latch element'21'and handle 1925. Serial No. 26,228;

of movement of the latch member yet" to be. described, which latch memberis adaptedto swing in a path perpendicularly to the plane and at'rig-ht angles to the longitudinal axisof the keeper plate 15.

Mounted upon the sash 10 is an escutcheon plate 20 constituting the means for mounting the latch member. The latch member 7 latch portion or element 21 and an operating portion consisting; preferably of-a weighted handle 22. In the embodiment 'of'the invention herein shown the 6 latch-member 21 and handle22 are shown as formed' of, one piece provided with anapertured hub portion 23' through which the headed stub shaft or, pin 24'is passed'for mounting the member 12 upon escutcheon 7 plate 20.

Latch element 21 is provided with a bevel-led or inclined face 25 adapted for engagement with the inclined face 17 of keeper 15 duringthe initial engagement of the latch element with the keeper. A projection26 formed on the escutcheon plate 20 constitutes a stop which engages a shouldered portion 27 of the latch element 21 for definingrthe position of restof the latch member during 8 its inoperative periods. Withthe shoulder 27 engaging the stop 26 the bevelled face 25 v will be positioned to engage the inclined face 17' of the keeper when the sash'lOis moved to closed position. It will be understoodthat handle 22, which is weighted, tends by gravity to move the latch element 21 past the, determined point of rest so that during the inoperative position of the parts the shoulder 27 will be in'engageinent with the sto 26. 1

Latch member 12'is formed with openings 22 respectively.v Flexible members 30 and 31, such as chains or the like, are connected at these points to the latch element and handle. These twoflexible members are connected together as at 32 and continue as a 7 single flexible operating. member 33. With this arrangement it is possible to swing the latch member about its pivot 24 in either direction merely by inclining the direction of pull exerted upon the operating member Consequently when the sash 10 has been swung to closed position and the latch eleinent 21 has entered the recess 18 in the ..-horizontal pivots away from the frame into open position.

In Figure at a slig tly modified form of construction is shown in which the latch portion 21 of latch member 12 is formed with i an abrupt face 34 extending substantially from the hub portion 23, this abrupt face engaging the recess in the keepcr 15 as well as the stop 26 on the plate 20. In other respects this formof construction is substantially similar to the one previously described.

. nected. to said latch member at separated While the one embodiment of the invention together with a slight modification thereof, has been illustrated and described herein in some detail it Wlll be 1111'1116Ql1ittQl" apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope ofthis invention, and to this end reservation is made to make such changes as may come within the purview of the acconnpanying claims.

lVhat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a latch construction, a keeper, a swingingly mounted latch member oscillatable by gravity toward latching position, said keeper being formed with a latch recess having one wall thereof inclined with reference to the path of oscillation of said latch menu her, and meansconsisting of a member conpoints for forcing said latch member into engagement with the inclined wall of said latch recess and forreleasing said member, said member iaving a free end whereby the same may be actuated.

2. A gravity latch for swinging windows and the like comprising, a keeper plate adapted to be attached to a window frame, a swingingly mounted latch member adapted to be mounted upon a sash, said keeper being formed with a latch recess into which said latchmember is movable by gravity actuated. means, one wall of said recess and one face of'said latch member co-operating to pro duce a relative wedging action therebetween and a single operating member having branches connected to said latch member at both ends for forcing said latch member into wedging position and for releasing said 1 member.

to rock the same into latching to rock the same erative and inopera' the same,

3. In a latch construction, a keeper, a latch member rockably mounted intermediate its ends, a keeper engaging portion on one end of said latch, a weight on the other tending position and a member secured to the weighted end of the said latch for manually rocking the latch into latching position. a. In a latch construction, a keeper, a latch member rockably mounted intermediate its ends, said latch member being weightedat one end and formed with a keeper engaging portion at the other whereby said latch I meml'ier is normally urged in latching direction and a flexible member sccured to the weighted end of the latch member for manually rocking the latching member into latching position.

5. a latch construction, a keeper, a latch member rockably mounted intermediate its ends, a keeper enga ng portion on one end of said latch and a. weight on the other tendinto latching position, and a single flexible member for manually rocking the said latch member in either direction about its pivot, said flexible member having a free end whereby the same may be actuated 6. In a latch construction, a keeper, a latch membe rockably mounted intermediate itsends, a keeper engaging portion on one end of said latch and a weight on the other tending to rock the into latching position and an operating member having a freeend and having its other end connected to said latch member on each side of its support for manually rocking the same into o ve position.

7. In a latch construction, a l-ceepe'r, a latch member, cooperating surfaces on the keeper and the latcl member respectively for effecting a wed action between the same and an operating nember secured at a plurality of points to said latch member, said operating member havin a free end for actuating the same.

7 8. In a latch construction, a keeper, a latch member, cooperating surfaces on the keeper and the latch member for effecting a preliminary latching engagement between gravity actuated means for facilithe prelin nary latchin engagementof the latch member with the keeper, 'addi' tional coeoperatin s1 faces on the keeper and the latch moi Jer for effecting a wedging action between the same, andmanually actuated means for producing the said wedgaction between the keeper and the latch member. I

In, testimony whereof ture.

I afiix my signa- HAROLD F. *WARDWELL. 

